New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-04-10
BALZAC IN ENGLISH.
A GREAT STUDY IN EVOLUTION.

BAllLAO I'm LN0AANAAs
A GREAT STUDY IN EVOLUTION.
TEE TWO BRorHERa BY HoSosE DE sAlzAo izm''
DID, 376 Boston Roberts Brotasf~
nj. on,,e nossible that many French students
NAV he somewhat puzzled to encounter that s'ory
NJ palxao,s which they have always known unuer
the title of "Un Monage Do 1arcon' IN tne
.,,anoa and unfamiliar appcllat'on Inc Two
p.o.horsn The explanation 10 simple enough, and
A. I. interesting a. Illustrating one OF baizscs Pc
n,Narit,os. A number Of his books underwent
many changes before they crystallized permanently
An the edition defnitive. Some OF them were be-
eun In newspaper or review, carried along some
distance In that way then dropped to appear pres
emily enlarged. altered, grown" as is said OF
children. "out Of knowledge" The History OF
Balsao's Works." by Charles do Lovenjonl gives
all the details Of these bewiderng metamorphoses'
The first title Of the present story that which
the American translator has selected,
namely Lies deux Feres.' The first
part OF 1t appeared In La Presse In
lS4l with this designation, and In 1S4S 1t was
published In two volumes without change OF title
The second part NOW incorporated with the inst
appeared IN La Prcsse In 1912 under the title " I'm
Mouage do Garoon on Province" and figured as
the continuation Of "The Two Brothers" In 1s43
the two parts were brought together and the whole
published as "Un Menage de Garcon en- Prov
tnoe" Basac, however. was not yet sat1sned.
Having announced yet another title, namely 10
Bophomme Rouget," he abandoned that, cancelled
both the former ones. and called the tale. IN the
deHnitlvo edition Of his works. LA Rabouil-
leuaen after FIore Brazer one Of the characters in
it. There can be no doubt that Miss Wormeley has
chosen the most opposite Of all these titles The
real subject is the OF the two brothers, fhii
rppo and Joseph Brdau The menage
d'un garoon, namely Jean Jacques Rouget. occupies
q subordinate position. and the Raboullleuse ID not
of sufficient consequence to give her name 70 inc
book. II may have been the imagined quaintness OF
the nick name given by lssoudun to the pretty
Flore that took Balzac's fancy but he certainly
made anything but an advantageous exchange
when he substituted this for his first title
The Two Brothers is powerful novel; 1t exhio-
jts Balzac IN his most strenuous aspect lame mas
said in speaking of the character of Philippe Brldau
that its writer showed the world how villain NAV
be made a hero not only without shocking the
public but In such way as to merge half the sense
of his viany in admiration at the scientlhc anal
yss of all the agencies and influences which make
him what he is The evolution of Philippe Bridau
m indeed marvellous study aud produces an
indescribable impression of creative power and OF
pit,less unimpassioned, all-embracing insight.
Horror at the crimes of Philippe is constantly
checked by the exhibition of proofs OF his inability
to do otherwise by the indication OF the domi-
nant influence upon him of all the events and con-
ditlons which moulded his character 1t is not
that vague effect sometimes called the march OF
destiny that we are here contemplating. 1t lsa
section of social life laying bare all the machinery
of human evolution. The author is the laboratory
49, Gov fha tnynr
scope, and who stands by TO interpret it TO the
spectator whose eye is at the instrument Senti-
ment has no admttance to the explcation. 1t is
precise faithful description of that which lies be-
tween the glasses Viewed from another plane OF
vision it may be moral. it may be criminal;
but science can only be interested In 1T as
q representation of actual life. That 1t is
this there can be no doubt We may
ousrrel with Balzac's choice of subjects, but we
are compelled to recognize the mastery Of his
treatment of them, and in 1.-The Two Brothers the
process of evolution is so clearly revealed the
logical necessity of each change for the worse in
Philppes character is so plainly demoDstr ated,
that there is no break in the chaln Oh causaton
from the beginning TO the end.
There is but one unknown quantity, and that Is
the inherited aptitudes of this wretch When he
has broken his mothers heart and she lies dying
she is heard to murmur to herself, " Whom does he
take afterf Bazac does not venture far into the
deep mysteries of heredIty. He is content TO feel
that whether or no facts can be explained, they
are facts; and the world is full Of Philippe
Bridaus proceeding from upright fathers and
mothers. Yet Agatha Bridau was not model
parent The mother love in her was perverted by
a vanity AKIN to vice. The fAshy beauty and pretty
tricks of her eldest son almost from the first OBJ
scured to her eyes the sterling virtue. consistency
and unselfshness of the younger boy, Joseph. The
story of good and bad brother is venerable. but
before Balzac it had been conventional to punish
the one and reward the other, to the edifcaton OF
readers The author of the Comedie Humane could
fall into no such error that He was depicting
life not composing an apology for good morals
Philippe has therefore all the defects of his train
ing, and all the advantages of his defects. He Is
coarse brutal selfish. dishonest, heartess. migrate
full: and precisely because be is all this he Is able
to do things which would be impossible to better
man. He is able to force his way to material
success by persistent effrOntery; he Is able to
fing ASIDE one after another, all the friends
who had helped him On a step. He robs his mother,
he robs the Descoings he robs his brother. he
robs his employers. he CANDLES, drinks. debauches.
rolls himself 10 the fifth of Paris. debases himself
more and more: but all the time he is becoming
filter instrument for the work he has in hand. He
hardens. he acquires command OF all his faculties
he develops diabolical activity. his towering
selfshness. reinforced by heart-atrophy. renders
him one of the most formidable Of creatures In
the dnadlv struggle with Flore Brazier and
Naxence Glet for the great Inheritance OF old
Rouget the good and pure and just Joseph. though
q genius, q great artist, fails utterly and even
disastrously, and is driven from the field in
confusion. But when Philippe enters upon
the scene his every wee aids him;
all his evil training seems to have been
preordained to fit him for this contest. The SIMS
ter power OF q strong will wholly divorced from
morality makes of him tremendous social force
Before the iron strength of his volton the feminine
subtety of La Rabouilleuse Is futile; even the
acuteness OF Maxence sinks into inferiority when
matched with this internally enfranchised INTEL